Reporter Rob raises charity cash with run

RELIEF, tiredness and delight were just three of things that I felt when I ran over the finishing line at the BUPA Birmingham half marathon.

While slowly walking to collect my medal and a drink of water, it started to sink in that I had just ran 13.1 miles in and around the second city in a time of what turned out to be one hour 49 minutes and 30 seconds.

After being asked to take part in the run, to support Cure Leukaemia, by my colleague Stephen after his wife, Katherine, was diagnosed with cancer and became the central point of a Mail campaign, I started to up my weekly runs to try to get ready for the big day on Sunday.

During my training, I completed the distance needed on several occasions but knew that on the day anything could happen.

So, with my running top on and trusty iPod ready to go, I ran across the start line at 11.01am along with nearly 20,000 other people.

I began to pace myself and was getting along fine but was glad to be handed a bottle of water at around three miles and later at seven miles.

The run headed out of Birmingham, past Cadbury in Bournville and Edgbaston cricket ground.

I was doing fine until my legs started to go at around 10 miles. It felt like running through quick sand but I didn’t stop, powered through and was cheered over the line in Broad Street by thousands of spectators.

I finished 3,549th in the end.

The run was hard and my legs are still recovering but I enjoyed the experience and raised more than £800 for charity.